Debenham, Frank - Geologist(1883 - 1965) - Biographical
notes

Born in New South Wales, Australia, Debenham started his
academic career with a degree in English and philosophy from
Sydney University and was a school teacher in New South Wales
for a short time. He returned to university in 1908 to
study Geology in part under Sir Edgeworth David, who had been
the Geologist on Shackleton's Nimrod expedition.

He was one of three geologists on Scott's expedition Terra
Nova, though didn't take part in the South Pole journey due
to a knee injury sustained while playing football in the snow.
He took part in two geological journeys to the west of the expedition
base. The first of these was a summer and autumn trip which
started in Jan 1911 and lasted for 11 weeks, much of it in "Dry
Valley", now renamed Taylor Valley after it was found to be
one of several dry valleys rather than being the only one.

The second trip took place the following spring, leaving
the base hut in Nov 1911 with a scheduled pick-up by the Terra
Nova on Jan 15th 1912, though the ship could not reach them
because of sea-ice, on the 5th of Feb, they set off across the
ice where they were seen and picked up by the ship on the 18th
of Feb. When Ponting, the official expedition photographer left
shortly afterwards, Debenham took over the role of photographer
for the second winter and final summer.

On return from Antarctica, Debenham went to Cambridge university
to write up his notes and results from the expedition. He joined
a light infantry battalion in the First World War and was severely
wounded in 1916.

He returned to Cambridge after the war to continue his work
on the expedition reports, becoming a lecturer, in 1920 along
with Raymond Priestly, using the remainder of public donations
received following the deaths of those in Scott's Polar Party,
Debenham co-founded the Scott Polar Research Institute, as a
part of Cambridge University. This was as a repository of information
and source of expertise for future expeditions to both polar
regions. Debenham was the first director (unpaid) of the Institute
from 1926 to 1946. Along with Raymond Priestly and James Wordie
a scientist on Shackleton's Endurance expedition, he made Cambridge
the centre of polar research in the UK.

Debenham making geological sections
12th July 1911

The geologists cubicle - Den
of the Ub DugsDebenham (l) and Taylor (r),
22nd May 1911

Western party just after being
rescued by the shipl to r Forde, Debenham,
Taylor, Gran - Feb 15th 1912

The Western Party after being
rescuedFeb 15th 1912, Scott's Terra Nova
expedition

Geological party Granite Harbour 1912
Gran seated left is taking the picture with a string
to operate the camera

References to Frank Debenham
by Cherry-Garrard in "The Worst Journey in the World"

Thus if you felt talkative you might always find a listener
in Debenham; if inclined to listen yourself
it was only necessary to sit near Taylor or Nelson; if,
on the other hand, you just wanted to be quiet, Atkinson
or Oates would, probably, give you a congenial atmosphere.

But now Scott became worried and unhappy. We were running
things on a fine margin of transport, and during the month
before we were due to start mishap followed mishap in the
most disgusting way. Three men were more or less incapacitated:
Forde with his frozen hand, Clissold who concussed himself
by a fall from a berg, and Debenham who
hurt his knee seriously when playing foot-ball.

The immediate problem which presented itself was how
best to use the resources which were left to us. Our numbers
were much reduced. Nine men had gone home before any hint
of tragedy reached them. Two men had been landed from the
ship. We were thirteen men for this last year. Of these
thirteen it was almost certain that Debenham
would be unable to go out sledging again owing to an injury
to his knee:

October 29 1912: Hut Point. The mule party,
under Wright, consisting of Gran, Nelson, Crean, Hooper,
Williamson, Keohane and Lashly, left Cape Evans at 10.30
and arrived here at 5 p.m. after a good march in perfect
weather. They leave Debenham and Archer
at the hut, and I am afraid it will be dull work for them
the next three months.

References to Frank Debenham
by Scott in "Scott's Last Expedition"

Debenham and Taylor aretaking advantage
of the last of the light to examine the topography of the
peninsula. In fact, everyone is extraordinarily busy.

To-night Debenham lectured on volcanoes.
His matter is very good, but his voice a little monotonous,
so that there were signs of slumber in the audience, but
all woke up for a warm and amusing discussion succeeding
the lecture.

The illustrative slides were made from Debenham's
photographs, and many of them were quite beautiful. Ponting
tells me that Debenham knows quite a lot about photography
and goes to work in quite the right way.

E.R. Evans, Debenham, and Gran set off
to the Turk's Head on Friday morning, Evans to take angles
and Debenham to geologise; they have been
in their tent pretty well all the time since, but have managed
to get through some work. Gran returned last night for more
provisions and set off again this morning, Taylor going
with him for the day. Debenham has just
returned for food. He is immensely pleased at having discovered
a huge slicken-sided fault in the lavas of the Turk's Head.
This appears to be an unusual occurrence in volcanic rocks,
and argues that they are of considerable age. He has taken
a heap of photographs and is greatly pleased with all his
geological observations. He is building up much evidence
to show volcanic disturbance independent of Erebus and perhaps
prior to its first upheaval.

The photography craze is in full swing. Ponting's mastery
is ever more impressive, and his pupils improve day by day;
nearly all of us have produced good negatives. Debenham
and Wright are the most promising, but Taylor, Bowers and
I are also getting the hang of the tricky exposures.

Another trying incident has occurred. We have avoided
football this season especially to keep clear of accidents,
but on Friday afternoon a match was got up for the cinematograph
and Debenham developed a football knee
(an old hurt, I have since learnt, or he should not have
played). Wilson thinks it will be a week before he is fit
to travel, so here we have the Western Party on our hands
and wasting the precious hours for that period.

Landmarks named after Frank Debenham

Feature Name: Debenham Glacier Type: glacier Latitude:
77°10'S Longitude: 162°27'E
Description: Glacier flowing into the northern
part of Wilson Piedmont Glacier on the coast of Victoria Land.
First mapped by the British National Antarctic Expedition (BrNAE)
(1901-04).

Feature Name: Debenham
Islands Type: islandLatitude:
68°08'S Longitude: 067°07'E
Description: Group of islands and rocks
lying between Millerand Island and the W coast of Graham Land.
Discovered and named by the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE),
1934-37, under Rymill; the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE)
base was on Barry Island, in the center of the group, during
part of this time. Frank Debenham served as member of the British
Graham Land Expedition (BGLE) Advisory Committee.

Feature Name: Debenham PeakType: summit Latitude:
67°21'S Longitude: 050°02'E
Description: Peak, 1,140 m, lying S of
Amundsen Bay in the Scott Mountains, about 7 mi E of Mount Cronus.
Discovered in January 1930 by the British Australian and New
Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) under Mawson.

Key:1 - first winter2 - second winter
iW - first western partyiiW - second western partyN - northern
party

D - depot laying for south pole journeyP - south pole party
C - winter journey to Cape CrozierS - search party for south Pole
partyPo - reached
South Pole

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